Article holding apparatus



Oct. 21, 1952 G, w. SODERMAN 2,614,516

ARTICLE HOLDING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 20, 1948 F/GJ a, IHHMWN /7 W I I2 LL It /15 20 "i w NW" 23 ll HIH as lo "I W 24 ill w I WW 25 INVENTOR A 7' TORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1 952 2,614,516; 1 a I ARTIQLE HQLDINGAPBARATUS; George WL Soderman; West Englewood; N; J assignor I to Western Electric Company, Incorpo-- rated, NewflYoi-k, Y., a corporationofNew- York Applicat fln October 20, 194sjsria'1Nmasrr e Thisinvention relates to article hol'ding apparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus for holding fragile platessuch as} synthetic crystals toi II I The "scarcity; of quartz; crystals-tor usein' communication equipment activated research work inf-the held of synthetic piezo-electric crystals. I

during the process of solderinglead wires there- 3.0laims; (Cl. 113--99) I edges extending into the-parallel grooves ofr-tha As the result of this work, synthetic crystals I commercially k-nown as EDT crystals grown in a' solution of ethylene diamine tartrate were adopted as a suitablesubstitutefor quartz in the manufacture-- of crystal-units; 'Ihe selection-of synthetic crystalsfor-"use-inplace of quartz,

necessitated new I developments in machines and methods of processing the synthetic crystal, as those previously employed for processing quartz crystals couldnotbe utilized for this purpose. The method of attaching' lead wiresto synthetic crystal plates-is theprincipal divergence in theirmanufacture from that-of -quartz crystal plat'es.- To protect these fragile syntheticcrystal plates.

from thermal-shock while the lead-wires are being attached, they-must be graduallyheatedto a temperature-at which they canwithstand the heat-requiredfor-the soldering operation; and then slowly cooled to room temperature.

' objectof the invention isto provide a holding apparatus for fragile articles, such as synthetic crystals,- whereinthe article is protected 7 from mechanical abuse and which acts as-Ia thermal-'reser-voirduringheating and cooling cycles; to protect the plate from thermal-shock. With this and other objectsin view, the invention comprises an apparatus for holding fragile articles including amain member having .an aperture therein, a companion member having an aperture therein cooperating with the main member to firmly support an articletherebetween and resilient elementsnormally urging the them-- has toward each other under like pressure to apply uniform pressurestothearticle to hold it army in place. I

More specifically, the apparatus includes a main member with like recesses at its endsand having parallel grooves in one surface-thereof I spaced *equal' distances; from the recesses; The

main member has spaced locating pins receivable in" apertures "of the companion member to locate the companion member; accurately relative to the maln member and to align its aperture with the aperture of themain member. I The companion member isjalsoprovidedwithrecesses in its ends,

the recesses in both members receiving the split prings which are substantially equal cylindrical in length'toithe notches serving to' hold-the members' in proper superimposed positions; I their" thetic I crystal plate in the hold-ing'appa'ratus is;

disclosed in the applicant's copending application, SerialNo. 55,5'78, filed; October 20, 1948. The unloading apparatus is shownin detail in the copending applicationof AI Fermanian and A. P. Jurnak, Serial No. 55,562, ;filed October- 20, 1948; If Other objects and advantages-will be; apparent from the following. detailed description wliencon I sidered in conjunction-"With the accompanying drawingsjwherein: I I

Fig. 1 is an isometric view' of I the article holding apparatus; portions thereof bihgdGIHOVd-i Fig.2is a topplanvi'ew-of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal. sectional view=takenalong the line 3-3 ofFig: 2'; r

Fig.4 isa-nend elevational view'oftheappa ratus' illustrating one form of mechanism forseparating the members for loading and unload- Y ing articlestherebetween; and I .first directed to the illustration in Fig.5 of an article l0, which in thepresent embodiment of the invention isa synthetic crystal'and' to which lead wires II- have beensecured by the aid'o'f' the apparatus. The apparatus includesa main member 12, rectangular in general contour and having recesses I4 formed in the ends thereof in off center aligned positions as illustrated in Fig. 2; The main member has a central elongate aperture" I5 open through one side-of the-memher by a slot l6.- Grooves ll are formed'in the outer surface; of the member-and extend thefull width of the member at positions' equally spaced from the A recesses l4; Apertures 20' are the companion member with respect to the main member I2.

The companion member 25 although similar in contour to the main member I2 is smaller in length and width whereby the ends of the main member may be received in grooves 28 of fixedly mounted holders 29 to hold the main member during actuation of the pins ill to force the members apart. The companion member 25 has re cesses 30 similar to the recesses I4 formed in its ends to receive holding elements 3| which are split cylindrical springs with apertures 32 disposed diametrically opposite the split portions of each spring to reduce the force, initially embodied in the spring, to that desired for holding the members I2 and 25 against the article It when placed therebetween. Parallel grooves 34 are formed in the outer surface ofthe companion member 25 t receive their respective edges of the springs 3i while the other edges of the springs enter the grooves I'a' and in this manner, the springs are held against displacement longitudinally of the apparatus, the recesses I4 and 35 holding the springs against displacement laterally of the apparatus. In a like manner, the springs 3| being'substantially equal in length to the recesses, cooperate with the pins 23 in holding the members properly positioned. The companion member 25 is provided with a central aperture 35 similar in contour to the aperture I5 of the main member I2 and in alignment therewith, the aperture 35 also being opened to the same side of the apparatus through a slot 36. Concaved recesses 31 and 38 are formed in the members 25 and I2 as illustrated in Fig. 3 to facilitate in positioning the lead wires II in engagement with the plate I and the application of heat to the Wires adjacent the points where they are to be soldered to theplate' during the solderingprocess.

The holding apparatus including the main member I2 and the companion member'25 presents smooth parallel inner surfaces of these members to receive the fragile articles In singly therebetween with portions of the articles to receive the lead wires II disposed in registration with the apertures I and 35. Through the forces embodied in the springs 3 I, uniform force will be applied through the members I2 and 25 to the article Ill firmly holding the article between the members whereby it is protected from mechanical abuse by the necessary handling of the article during the process of mounting the leadwires II upon the opposing surfaces thereof. Furthermore, the members I2 and 25 are formed of suitable metal to act asa thermal-reservoir for the article during heating and cooling cycles neces-,

sary for the soldering process to protect the plate or article it against thermal-shock.

The article It is positioned between the mem bers I2 and. 25 when they are in their open positions caused by the actuation of the pins 2I flexing the springs 3 I. When the article is accurately located, the pins 2I are moved gradually in a given direction to allow the force of the springs 3I to move the companion member against the article applying uniform pressures to the article. After the lead wires II have been secured in plape the apparatus may again be opened by 4 the aid of the fixed position holders 29 holding the main member I2 against movement while the pins 2I enter the apertures to abut the companion member 25 at the corners thereof uniformly moving the companion member against the forces of the springs 3| until it is free of the article. The completed article may then be removed from the apparatus, moving the lead Wires I I through the slots I6 and 35.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for removably holding fragile articles while parts are secured thereto comprising a first article engaging member having an aperture therein open to one side of the member through a slot, a second article engaging member having an aperture therein open to one sideof the member through a slot, the apertures in the members exposing portions of opposing faces of the article whereby parts may be secured thereto, and the slots providing exits for the parts, springs normally urging the members toward each other, and means to cause relative positioning of the members to maintain alignment of the apertures and their slots, the first member having pin receiving apertures at spaced positions therein through which pins may be moved to move the second member away from the first member against the force of the springs to open the holder for the successive loading and unloading of articles between the members.

2. An apparatus for holding synthetic crystal plates for the soldering of lead wires thereto the' apparatus comprising companion metallic members-With opposing flat surfaces to engage 0pposing faces of a synthetic crystal plate, and

aligned apertures open to adjacent sidesof the members through slots whereby portions of the synthetic crystal plate to whichlead Wires are to be soldered are exposed and the synthetic crystal plate with the lead wires may be removed from between the members with the-lead wires moving through the slots, and split cylindrical springs engaging portions of the membersupon opposing sides of the apertures and slots to firmly. hold the synthetic crystal plate therebetween to protect it against mechanical abuse and whereby,

the metallic members may be heated with the synthetic crystal plate to various temperatures to protect the crystal plate against thermalshock.

3. An apparatus for removably holding fragile:

having a fiat article engaging surface, cooperating withthe article engaging surface of the first 'member to engage opposing face of the article,

andan-aperture therein open to one side of themember through a slotttheanertures in the mem v bers exposing aligned portions of opposing faces of the article whereby parts may be secured thereto and. the slots providing exits for the parts,-

split cylindrical springs extending about opposing ends of the members to the members in uniform.

pressure contact with the article, and Drojc' tions carried by one of the members andreceiv-f ablein apertures. of the other member tom'amtain' 5 alignment of the first mentioned apertures and slots, the first member having pin receiving apertures therein through which pins may be moved to engage and move the second member away from the first member against the forces of the springs to open the holder for the successive loading and unloading of articles between the members.

GEORGE W. SODERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Settle Dec. 6, 1904 I-Ioffay Oct. 31, 1916 Sindelar Oct. 9, 1917 Bucci June 3, 1924 Kurkowski May 3, 1927 Thompson Oct. 28, 1941 Humphrey Dec. 1, 1942 

